Metal Gear Solid on the Gameboy color, or Metal Gear: Ghost Babel outside of America, is an astounding game that manages to combine elements from the popular 3D playstation game with the classic 2D Metal Gear gameplay. The game's story is non-cannon in the larger Metal Gear universe and is set after the events of the first Metal Gear game from 1987. Solid Snake's back to take down some crazy super powered mercenaries out to launch a nuclear warhead at the US. Although this is standard fare for a Metal Gear game, it still manages to tell an engrossing story with long cinematic cutscenes and dramatic Codec conversations. The in game sprites, though small, are clearly detailed. Even though an action like guards turning their heads is a matter of a couple of pixels moving they still clearly convey what the figure is doing. The game looks great. It takes full use the Gameboy color's palate to make all the environments unique and striking. Where this game really shines though, is the gameplay. The game's control greatly resembles the second Metal Gear game. You can crouch to crawl through and under cover, you can knock on walls to distract guards, and the handy soliton radar makes an appearance to help identify enemy placement. New to the 2D games though is the ability to flatten Snake against a wall to see farther down a hall or slide through area you formerly wouldn't have been able to get through. On top of this, the boss fights are challenging and creative making you utilise your arsenal of gadgets and weapons to find their weaknesses.
This game is a little pricey and hard to find, but it is a must have to GBC owners and Metal Gear fans everywhere.
Reviews with images
A must own title for the Game Boy Color
Metal Gear Solid is one of Konami's most popular franchises throughout the world. Back in 1997, it used to be a dormant series until they released it for the Playstation and was an instant success. It was a continuation from the NES games, where it began, and set the gaming world on fire. Three years later, Konami released Metal Gear Solid and it proved to be a must own title for the Game Boy Color. Blending elements of the previous 2 NES games and the PS1 hit game plus a brand new story that takes place before the events of the PS1 game, MGS was an exciting game to have seen and played.In this game, Metal Gear has been kidnapped by terrorists and they are intent on using it to vaporize the world. The U.S. government called upon Solid Snake (the character you control) to infiltrate the terrorists' headquarters and stop them before they use the nuclear weapon. Navigate through over 50 different appears while avoiding enemy soldiers, solving puzzles and figuring out where to go in numerous mazes while running into an occasional boss character. The story had its own twists and turns and you interact with characters who are there to help you out over the radio (aka Codec.) You can pick up ammo and weapons along with rations (health power ups) and other items. It's a long game so prepare to save often by calling one of the characters through the codec and your progress will be saved up until that point.The PROS: Metal Gear Solid was very, very impressive for a Game Boy Color game. The game plays like the previous NES games right down to the detailed graphics, sound effects, music and animation. The story moves along with smooth cut scenes and text while elements of the PS1 game are sprinkled throughout so for anyone who has played it before will recognize some of the characters, weapons and game play. On top of the main story mode, Konami included over 180 virtual reality training missions just like in the PS1 game. Also included is a 2 player VS mode where you connect with another player via a cable link and play through hide and seek matches. This game packed a lot of content!The CONS: This game is a breeze on easy mode but normal, hard and very hard modes are no joke. Like I said before, it's a long game and if you remember to save, you'll repeat the same mission objectives again and again as the game starts you from the last time you save. Also, since this game is on a cartridge, don't expect to hear any voice samples or acting. You must read via the scrolling text to see what happens and some cut scenes last longer than others.This game pleased Metal Gear Solid fans at the time and Konami wanted to capitalize on the franchise's renewed popularity at the time. They didn't take any shortcuts with this game and it shows. It was very impressive for a Gam Boy Color game and it's still worth taking out and playing through it again.
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Reviewed in the United States on September 28, 2011
In this game, Metal Gear has been kidnapped by terrorists and they are intent on using it to vaporize the world. The U.S. government called upon Solid Snake (the character you control) to infiltrate the terrorists' headquarters and stop them before they use the nuclear weapon. Navigate through over 50 different appears while avoiding enemy soldiers, solving puzzles and figuring out where to go in numerous mazes while running into an occasional boss character. The story had its own twists and turns and you interact with characters who are there to help you out over the radio (aka Codec.) You can pick up ammo and weapons along with rations (health power ups) and other items. It's a long game so prepare to save often by calling one of the characters through the codec and your progress will be saved up until that point.
The PROS: Metal Gear Solid was very, very impressive for a Game Boy Color game. The game plays like the previous NES games right down to the detailed graphics, sound effects, music and animation. The story moves along with smooth cut scenes and text while elements of the PS1 game are sprinkled throughout so for anyone who has played it before will recognize some of the characters, weapons and game play. On top of the main story mode, Konami included over 180 virtual reality training missions just like in the PS1 game. Also included is a 2 player VS mode where you connect with another player via a cable link and play through hide and seek matches. This game packed a lot of content!
The CONS: This game is a breeze on easy mode but normal, hard and very hard modes are no joke. Like I said before, it's a long game and if you remember to save, you'll repeat the same mission objectives again and again as the game starts you from the last time you save. Also, since this game is on a cartridge, don't expect to hear any voice samples or acting. You must read via the scrolling text to see what happens and some cut scenes last longer than others.
This game pleased Metal Gear Solid fans at the time and Konami wanted to capitalize on the franchise's renewed popularity at the time. They didn't take any shortcuts with this game and it shows. It was very impressive for a Gam Boy Color game and it's still worth taking out and playing through it again.
A must own title for the Game Boy Color
Reviewed in the United States on September 28, 2011
Metal Gear Solid is one of Konami's most popular franchises throughout the world. Back in 1997, it used to be a dormant series until they released it for the Playstation and was an instant success. It was a continuation from the NES games, where it began, and set the gaming world on fire. Three years later, Konami released Metal Gear Solid and it proved to be a must own title for the Game Boy Color. Blending elements of the previous 2 NES games and the PS1 hit game plus a brand new story that takes place before the events of the PS1 game, MGS was an exciting game to have seen and played.Reviewed in the United States on September 28, 2011
In this game, Metal Gear has been kidnapped by terrorists and they are intent on using it to vaporize the world. The U.S. government called upon Solid Snake (the character you control) to infiltrate the terrorists' headquarters and stop them before they use the nuclear weapon. Navigate through over 50 different appears while avoiding enemy soldiers, solving puzzles and figuring out where to go in numerous mazes while running into an occasional boss character. The story had its own twists and turns and you interact with characters who are there to help you out over the radio (aka Codec.) You can pick up ammo and weapons along with rations (health power ups) and other items. It's a long game so prepare to save often by calling one of the characters through the codec and your progress will be saved up until that point.
The PROS: Metal Gear Solid was very, very impressive for a Game Boy Color game. The game plays like the previous NES games right down to the detailed graphics, sound effects, music and animation. The story moves along with smooth cut scenes and text while elements of the PS1 game are sprinkled throughout so for anyone who has played it before will recognize some of the characters, weapons and game play. On top of the main story mode, Konami included over 180 virtual reality training missions just like in the PS1 game. Also included is a 2 player VS mode where you connect with another player via a cable link and play through hide and seek matches. This game packed a lot of content!
The CONS: This game is a breeze on easy mode but normal, hard and very hard modes are no joke. Like I said before, it's a long game and if you remember to save, you'll repeat the same mission objectives again and again as the game starts you from the last time you save. Also, since this game is on a cartridge, don't expect to hear any voice samples or acting. You must read via the scrolling text to see what happens and some cut scenes last longer than others.
This game pleased Metal Gear Solid fans at the time and Konami wanted to capitalize on the franchise's renewed popularity at the time. They didn't take any shortcuts with this game and it shows. It was very impressive for a Gam Boy Color game and it's still worth taking out and playing through it again.
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